http://www.nme.com/news/the-jesus-and-mary-chain/32740



The Jesus And Mary Chain set to release new album

26.Nov.07 12:32pm

The Jesus And Mary Chain have revealed they are to release a new album, their first since 1998's Munki.

The group split that same year but reconvened earlier in 2007 at the US festival Coachella, after which they decided to make another album.

Their manager Kevin Oberlin said: "We thought having the band reunite for Coachella would help set up both of their [the Reid brothers'] solo albums, but the very next day after the show, Jim and William did an interview and said that they were going to do a new Mary Chain album."

Speaking to Billboard about the new album, William Reid said: "I would say it's an evolution. It definitely sounds like the Mary Chain, but I guess you evolve as a person and a writer. You can't really stand still. If you do that, you're lost."

Jim and William Reid are currently choosing 12 tracks from their batch of new songs, which they wrote separately, for the album, scheduled for a late spring or early summer release.

William Reid also explained how the tensions in the band are still present, but are under control.

He said: "When we ended in '98, we hated each other. A lot of that was down to drink and drugs. Jim's completely sober now, and I don't drink during the shows. But there is a kind of wariness. We're both aware that we could snap at each other, but we're trying to hold it together. We love this band, and we love each other."

As previously reported, the band play two London shows in early 2008, at the Roundhouse on March 11 and 12.

I lost track of them after Automatic, but I was a big fan back in the day. Saw them live a time or two as well. I may just give this a listen.

Great news indeed. The best band founded in the '80s with the arguable exception of U2. The've got a 4CD box set coming in February from Rhino apparently as well.

Good news, Rhino did a great job with Echo and the Bunnymen and the Brit Box. I look forward to this one as well.

It's supposed to be all b-sides and rarities however I've been a JAMC completist for years and have actively searched for and collected innumerable b-sides, vinyl versions and other rarities but nowhere near enough to fill four CDs. I'm guessing it'll be fleshed out with album tracks.

I don't know - I count about 80 non-LP b-sides (including those on now-out-of-print-in-America compilations) and I know of dozens of unreleased tunes (especially from the early days). Throw in obvious radio session and live tracks and I don't think they could even remotely cram it all on four CDs.